Rising Bharat 2026 | Redefining Justice: Shedding Colonial Baggage For A ‘New India’

Last Updated:February 28, 2026, 20:12 IST

The conversation at the summit navigated the delicate equilibrium between individual liberty and national security

The News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026 reached a significant legal milestone during the session titled “Law, Liberty, and the New Bharat", where a panel of distinguished legal minds examined India’s transition from a colonial-era framework to an indigenous system. Satyapal Jain, Ashish Dixit, Sumit Chander, and Vikas Gupta brought pragmatic perspectives to the discourse on how the nation is dismantling legislative structures designed by the British to “rule and punish". Satyapal Jain, the Additional Solicitor General of India, anchored the discussion by highlighting the transformative potential of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, arguing that after 75 years, India has finally prioritised “justice" over “technical punishment", reflecting a newfound “Strength Within".

The conversation navigated the delicate equilibrium between individual liberty and national security, a theme articulated by layer Ashish Dixit, who suggested that liberty in the New Bharat is a structured freedom existing in harmony with collective security. Advocate Vikas Gupta expanded on this by addressing the “trial by fire" that many litigants face. He remarked that while the new laws are a step toward decolonisation, the true litmus test of “liberty" lies in the protection of the innocent during the pre-trial phase. Gupta emphasised that the new legal framework must ensure that “the process does not become the punishment", advocating for stricter timelines and the elimination of unnecessary procedural delays that have historically shackled the Indian citizen.

The practical application of these reforms for the “common man" was a focal point for lawyer Sumit Chander, who highlighted the persistent bottlenecks within the lower judiciary. Building on this, Vikas Gupta noted that the “New Bharat" must also be a “Fair Bharat". He argued that as India moves towards an “Aatmanirbhar" legal system, there must be an equal emphasis on legal aid and the empowerment of the marginalised to navigate these new statutes. He suggested that the transition from the IPC to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita is not merely a change of nomenclature but a mandate to make the courtroom a less intimidating space for the ordinary person.

The session concluded with a shared optimism regarding the role of technology and the “Paperless Courts" initiative. The panel reached a consensus that the integration of artificial intelligence and digital filing—bolstered by the procedural reforms suggested by Gupta—has introduced an unprecedented level of transparency. By embracing these modern tools and indigenous laws, India is effectively shedding its colonial baggage, ensuring that the legal system finally resonates with the cultural, social, and technological realities of the 21st century.

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